Brookside Central new name for community centre
Residents have chosen Brookside Central as the name for the new community centre on one of Telford’s New Town Estates.
Telford & Wrekin Council is just weeks from completing the new centre which is part of the broader £6m regeneration of Brookside.
The key features of the regeneration scheme include:
- new shops which will be let to existing operators
- flats above the shops
- refurbishment of the community centre which incorporates the previously separate facilities for young people
- a new community café
- a new Wrekin Housing Trust shop.
It also includes acquisition and demolition of 37 flats and construction of new bungalows to provide more housing for older people close to the centre.
The regeneration is significantly improving the area with a new car park already completed and work on construction of 18 new bungalows is already under way.
The community centre is due to be completed and open to the public on April 20 although works on the external landscaping will continue for a couple more weeks in April.
The old Brookside Community Centre closed its doors in December 2013. All the existing users and community groups were given help to find new temporary homes in the Stirchley and Brookside Parish.
In addition to the regeneration works, landscaping improvements have also been made in nearby streets and public car parking upgraded through Telford & Wrekin Council’s £13.8m upgrade of the Pride In Your Community programme.
Throughout January, local residents and user groups from the community centre were given the opportunity to rename the new community centre.
A total of 35 suggestions were put forward and a short list of three names drawn up with Brookside Central voted the winner.
The new centre is also creating two new caretaker posts which have been filled by two local Brookside residents.
The council is also improving the green open space known locally as The Dip, including repairing steps, upgrading street lighting and organising a community bulb planting project.
Councillor Shaun Davies, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: "I am delighted that the Brookside Community Centre is near completion and welcome the new name.
"We made investment in the estate a priority as it was in urgent need of regeneration and it is fantastic to see that the first phase will soon be finished."
The next stage of the regeneration will see the "spinal path" which runs through the centre of the estate improved with tree and shrub managements and drainage and pathway repairs.
The next meeting of Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet will receive an update on the delivery of the Brookside Local Centre project when it meets on March 19.
